Here are some of the reasons why you may be ordered to pay Child SupportBy law, every person has a duty to support their biological or adopted children. See A.R.S § 25-501(A). This applies without or without a court order. The term “child support,” though, generally refers the Court-ordered amount one parent is required to pay to the other parent.Read more about Child Support even though you have equal Parenting TimeThis is what it sounds like—this is when it’s the parent’s time with the child(ren). See A.R.S § 25-401(5). Prior to 2012, it was known as physical custody.Read more about Parenting Time. Arizona Child Support GuidelinesA set of guidelines, prepared by a committee of attorneys and judges who review Arizona’s child support statutes, to help judges, attorneys, and litigants understand and calculate child support. A.R.S. § 25-500(3) defines the Guidelines as “the child support guidelines that are…Read more about Child Support Guidelines are set up to guarantee both parents have sufficient economic resources to meet their child’s needs and to help ensure the child maintains a relatively similar quality of life under both parent’s care.
Difference in IncomeAs defined by A.R.S. § 25-500(6), “any form of payment owed to an individual, regardless of source, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, disability payments, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program and interest.” See also child…Read more about Income
The most common reason why child support is ordered in equal parenting time situations is due to a difference in income between the parents. In Arizona, Child SupportBy law, every person has a duty to support their biological or adopted children. See A.R.S § 25-501(A). This applies without or without a court order. The term “child support,” though, generally refers the Court-ordered amount one parent is required to pay to the other parent.Read more about Child Support is calculated with a standard formula, set forth in the 2022 Arizona Child Support Guidelines. The most important aspect of the calculation with equal Parenting TimeThis is what it sounds like—this is when it’s the parent’s time with the child(ren). See A.R.S § 25-401(5). Prior to 2012, it was known as physical custody.Read more about Parenting Time is the IncomeAs defined by A.R.S. § 25-500(6), “any form of payment owed to an individual, regardless of source, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, disability payments, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program and interest.” See also child…Read more about Income of the parents. If you make significantly more than the other parent, it is likely you will be ordered to pay the other parent child support, even if the parenting time is equal.
Health Insurance Payments
You may be ordered to pay child support despite having equal parenting time and similar incomes if the other parent pays the monthly health insurance premiums for the Minor ChildA child under the age of 18 years. Parenting time and legal decision-making orders are for children under the age of 18, though it is customary to continue the plan until the end of the child's senior year of high school. For child support purposes, the obligation to pay child…Read more about Minor Child. In the Child Support CalculationThis is the official calculation that the state produces every four years for calculating child support. Courts and attorneys use this calculation to determine the ongoing child support amount.Read more about Child Support Calculation, the parent paying for the child’s health insurance is given credit for the amount they pay for health insurance toward the cost of raising the child.
Education Expenses
Another possible reason you might have to pay child support is if one parent is paying more for the educational needs of the minor child. This may include private school tuition, special education expenses, or for other developmental needs for the child. The Court is not required to include these expenses, but often does when the paying parent shows good cause to include them in the support calculation.
Other Credits
You may be ordered to pay child support because the other parent may receive additional credits on the Child Support WorksheetThis refers to an Excel spreadsheet that contains Arizona’s Child Support Calculation. Attorneys and judges can use the Child Support Worksheet to figure out how much child support is owed. A Child Support Worksheet, which can be a print of the Excel document or an online Child…Read more about Child Support Worksheet for other caregiving expenses. These credits may include child support payments for a child from another relationship or credit for travel expenses for the child.
DeviationWhen the Court orders a child support or spousal maintenance amount different than what is on the Child Support Worksheet and the Spousal Maintenance Calculator. While Courts rely heavily both on the Child Support Worksheet and the Spousal Maintenance Calculator, the Court does…Read more about Deviation Requests
Finally, even though the child support worksheet may show that you are not supposed to pay the other PartyAn individual, entity, or the state that either brings the lawsuit or is required to respond to the lawsuit. See ARFLP Rule 3(f).Read more about Party child support, the parties can agree to deviate child support to an agreed upon amount. In order for child support to be deviated, there must be a clear agreement between the parents or have the finding made by a Judge. In both situations, it must be found that a deviation is in the Minor ChildA child under the age of 18 years. Parenting time and legal decision-making orders are for children under the age of 18, though it is customary to continue the plan until the end of the child's senior year of high school. For child support purposes, the obligation to pay child…Read more about Minor Child’s best interest.
Child support is always modifiable. If either parent’s circumstances materially change, either party may file to modify child support.
